"The following is the Electoral Program of the Democratic Nationalist Party approved by the General Council of the Party on the 14th January 1962:

The Democratic Nationalist Party will always work hand in hand with the Church, our Religion taking priority in all decisions. The Party undertakes to defend and abide by the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church and will seek inspiration in its social policy from the teachings of the Papal Encyclicals. The Democratic Nationalist Party commits itself never to support or to seek the support of the Malta Labour Party for as long as this party declares itself to be against our Church and our traditions.

The Party has examined at length the international situation and especially the sight of the Communist threat struggle between the Christian and Communist Worlds. In so doing it has not lost sight of the Communist threat in the Mediterranean and especially of that now existing in Cyprus.

Whilst on the one hand the Malta Labour Party has affiliated itself to the Socialist International with a seat in the executive Council in the A.A.P.S.O. which is ruled by Communist elements, the D.N.P. is establishing permanent links with the Democratic Christian Parties in Europe in order that Malta may as a result benefit from its contacts with these Christian Countries which in turn may help her to solve some of her problems. At the same time whilst the leader of the Malta Labour Party has condemned Nato, the D.N.P. confirms its faith in the organisation which constitutes the only effective form of defence of our Christian Civilisation. It is however the aim of the Party to request that NATO. which has in Malta an important base, should use its influence with the component countries to get them to help Malta in her struggle for progress in order that ultimately she may obtain economic and political stability as a result of which communism would not be able to obtain a foothold on Malta.

The D.N.P. confirms its faith in the Commonwealth and would like Malta and Great Britain to be real and effective partners to the benefit of both and not in such a way that one will have to subject itself to the other. The D.N.P. expects Great Britain to recognise forthwith Malta's right to full Self-Government within the Commonwealth (also known as Dominion Status) as confirming that the Maltese should be sovereign over their own country. The British and Maltese Governments will undertake to sign mutual agreements on matters of defence and fore gn policy. The British will pay for the use of Malta as a military base which because of its geographical position is a very important one. At the same time the D.N.P. maintains that the constitutional and economic questions are interrelated and should therefore be solved in such a way that one does not cause any harm to the other. The D.N.P. in tackling these problems undertakes to protect the fundamental human rights (such as are freedom of religion, the rights of minorities, the right of the Maltese to run their own affairs and the very economic welfare and progress of our country).

THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY

It is important that Malta should as a part of Europe join the European Community and thus participate in the Common Market. Malta should, like Greece, join as an associate and it would be the duty of the Maltese Government to study as a very first step how best to obtain all the facilities and help contemplated in the Treaty of Rome to help the under developed countries. Local industries which are in fact just developing require special protection.

The D.N.P. will do its best to make of Malta the "Free Port' and Entrepot of the Common Market in the Mediterranean placed as it is between Europe and Africa, between East and West.

In a few years time Europe will develop and prosper even further. The Maltese with the 'proper technical training would then be able to obtain well paid work in the Common Market Countries and in others like Switzerland which imports hundreds of thousands of labourers a year. If Malta becomes the "Port" of the Common Market many new industries will no doubt establish branches in this Country. It is important however to remember that in these days of high competition irrespective of whether Malta joins the Common Market or not her industries should manage to produce their goods at competitive prices with a high standard of finish and good delivery dates. These are facts and they are to be faced.

Education is one of the very important items in this programme the system as such requires to be reorganized in a way that there will be a smoother co-ordination between Elementary, Secondary and Technical Education so moulded as to be able to cater for the present and future requirements of our country. Our latin inheritance. should be retained. English should be taught even more in the schools in view of emigration to Great Britain, Australia and Canada. Politics should not interfere with education. The D.N.P. considers the University as being the centre of local culture and will do its best to ensure that the rising generations will be given every opportunity to benefit from a university education of a standard obtainable in other countries.

The D.N.P. would like the University of Malta to be a centre of education for the whole of the Mediterranean and would like to work hand in hand with the University Authorities to achieve this aim. The D.N.P. in order to encourage public spirited persons to effect donations to the University will undertake to amend taxation laws in this respect. The D.N.P. undertakes to revise the scholastic syllabi in order to give more importance to the teaching of European languages and especially more, so once Malta joins the Common Market. It also undertakes to improve the teaching Of technical and scientific subjects together with studies in economics and commerce. Geography and European history should become compulsory in Secondary Schools. The teaching of technical subjects should be given the very greatest importance. Foreign teachers and professors (preferably Catholics) of a high standard should if necessary be imported if none are available locally and students should be encouraged in every way to specialize overseas where this is possible. The system of scholarships should be developed further. The number of schools, especially secondary and technical ones, should be increased. The D.N.P. considers that economy in education is in every respect a false economy.

The D.N.P. undertakes to help directly and indirectly those private schools which cater for the education of many thousands of our children, this, however, after having made sure that the standard of education and the salaries of the teachers are adequate.

Television and the cinema should be made use of as a means of education both in the schools and elsewhere. The system of education the schools should be such as to create an interest in international matters and on local problems so as to engender a spirit of public spiritedness and leadership. Sport should be given greater importance in the education of our children. Youth Centres and other bodies affiliated to the Youth Consultative Council should benefit from Government help provided these are not set up for political purposes. Help in this respect could be in the form of exemption from customs duty and other forms of taxation on tools required for the teaching of special crafts.

The teaching of these crafts should be organised on a national and artistic basis in order that they may not only develop further but also in order that existing ones such the manufacture of lace, silverware and filigree may develop even further both in the factories and in the homes.

The Royal Opera House should be rebuilt, and for this purpose the Governments of Germany and Italy should be invited to contribute substantially towards it5 expense as in fact the German Government has already 'done in other countries. The British government must once reaffirm its undertaking to pay for all the cost of War Damage repairs.

A national orchestra should be formed and the television and rediffusion companies should be invited to subsidise to its many costs.

Students of music should, by a system of scholarships be given every opportunity to carry on with their studies abroad. A proportion of the entertainment tax deriving from cinemas and football should be used to subsides the Opera House and the National Orchestra.

The D.N.P. undertakes to give every form of help and encouragement to the band clubs and undertakes to cooperate with them in granting students of music every opportunity to carry on with their studies.

The programme of Social Services of the D.N.P. is based on Catholic Sociology and on the "Dignity of Man". There must exist a just distribution of income and at the same time increase production as a result of which these services could improve even further.

1. Everybody has a right to a living wage, for himself and his family.

2. The Government should give as much consideration to the payment of a fair wage or salary to its Civil Service as it should to the persons employed in private enterprises, the latter having never managed to benefit from any of the increase which the Government has at different times granted. The D.N.P. therefore undertakes to adopt a principle of just distribution of wealth bearing in mind the fact that an increase in the cost of living is something that effects everybody.

When following an increase in the wages or salaries of service or government personal it is found t h a t persons employed by private enterprises cannot be similarly increased some form of subsidy of compensation shall be effected in order to compensate for what would eventually prove to be an increase in the cost of living.

Catholic Sociology especially the latest encyclical "Mater et Magistra", recommends that progress and social servces should be the responsibility of all sections of the population who all in turn should all benefit, not the least the farmers. This is after all in the interest of the national economy if we do not want the new generations to give up agriculture altogether.

3. The D.N.P. undertakes to introduce into the country the principle of family allowances as a result of which help would as a first step be given to large families. The size of the family qualifying for an allowance, would be determined not only on the basis of the actual number of persons in that family and the cost of living but also according to the funds which will be available for use under this heading. These allowances will be given up to when the children in the family are sixteen years of age. Help will be of a financial nature and in cases where the children in a family are being looked after by an institution, help would be given Instead to this institution.

4. The D.N.P. has gone deeply into the matter of profit sharing by which the workers may participate in the profits of the undertaking employing them. As a result the workers would no doubt have at heart the prosperity of their firm.

5. The D.N.P. will examine health conditions in the factories with a view to ensuring that these are adequate and in accordance with certain standards set by industrial medicine.

6. Government employees will have a right to paid leave.

7. The D.N.P. will impose compulsory insurance in cases where persons carry out works of a dangerous nature.

8. The D.N.P. will amend the National Insurance Act in order that this may increase the benefits which would be due to contributing towards it. Amongst the amendments contemplated are (a) that Old Age pensions shall be granted at the age of 60 and not 65 with the option that persons desiring to carry on working after the age of 60 may do so retaining after the right to this pension at the age of 65 irrespective of whether they would like to carry on working after this age or not. (b) everybody including youths will have a right to sick and unemployment benefits. (c) old age pensions and other benefits will be increased concurrently with increases in. the cost of living, (a) self employed persons and housewives will be allowed to contribute towards this scheme will analyse this structure of in order that as many people as possible should benefit as a result.

9. The D.N.P. undertakes to set up a National Council of employers and employees of a strictly non-political nature in order that thi5 may involve the best system for a progressive form of industrialization together with a system of increased production and ultimately improved relation between employers and employees. This council will analyse the structure of salaries with special consideration given to the principle of "profit sharing" in order that salaries and wages shall always be just and adequate workmanship of a high and competitive nature.

10. The D.N.P. undertakes to increase Old Age Pension and to pay a proportion of these to the pensioners themselves and a proportion to the institution itself in cases where pensioners have sought accommodation in one of the many homes of old people.

11. The D.N.P. undertakes to improve Old Age Pensions in cases of Civil Servants as follows: (a) Employees employed on a permanent basis (whether industrial or non-industrial) will all have a right to a pension. (b) Pension as such is a RIGHT (the employee and present legislation will be amended where this stipulates that pension is not a right. (c) Pensions of persons who have been in retirement for a number of years will have their pension revised, as a result of any increases in the cost of living and as a result of any increase in the salary paid to the person now holding a similar post. Similarly the Widows and Orphans pension will be revised. (d) Professionally qualified employees shall be allowed the period spent in the obtaining of their qualification to count towards the number of years required for the assessment of the pension and in the case of Magistrates this period shall be determined at ten years.

12. The D.N.P. shall give special consideration to the position of old people and especially those who have no family to look after them. The segregation of old people from their normal surroundings into institutions may be a difficult thing for some people to accept. For that reason the D.N.P. undertakes to (a) Improve accommodation in Old People's Homes to ensure that old couples may carry on living together. (c) Set up a "geriatric unit" consisting of qualified medical and nursing staff which would be required to look after old people who would rather carry on living in familiar surroundings spending their time doing something useful and as a result feeling happier for this. (d) Allocate ground floor flats in community blocks to old people with consideration given to help on matters of buying, and preparing food and this also with the help of Catholic organisations.

The D.N.P. undertakes to take serious steps to solve the housing problems in order that every family may live in healthy and modern surroundings. Engaged couples should be allocated a greater number of the houses available. The D.N.P. desires that. everybody should be given the opportunity to acquire and own his own house, and for this purpose it undertakes to help in every Possible way the setting up of "building societies" The D.N.P. already has a scheme by which dwelling units now costing the Government £1400 to erect could in fact be provided for £810.

The Government should allocate works to contractors on an approved list and not necessarily carry out work on a day labour basis, this invariably costing more. The Public Works Department should be divided into three distinct and separate departments the first to deal with town planning and building permits, the second to undertake works on behalf of other departments (such as schools and hospitals), and the third to undertake works of a more public nature such as roads and sewers. The D.N.P. undertakes to rebuild at the earliest opportunity the Law courts and to include in the next five year plan the construction of a fully equipped national stadium.

The country is placing its hopes on industrialisation. The D.N.P. will take the necessary steps to increase this even further and help in every possible way by further five year plans, by the training of managerial staff, by introducing further tax holidays and by increased advertising on the Continent to encourage industries to set up branches in Malta, by increased production of electricity, by distillation of sea water for drinking and irrigation purposes and by keeping in close touch with developments in solar energy which in a few years time will afford great possibilities in the industrial field.

The D.N.P. will set up (a) an Industrial Development Service so as to keep in close contact with local industries and to help these to obtain new markets overseas (b) A Board of Trade to ensure that local industries will produce goods to a high and acceptable standard (c) a Bank to help industries.

The D.N.P. will encourage the setting up of typically local industries on which one could rely for an increased number of employees. Every form of encouragement will be given to the setting up of home industries for the manufacture of lace, souvenirs, etc. Protection of industries shall be made to apply with the aim of increasing production. Protection to industries should be analysed in conjunction with resulting higher costs especially where these would create an increase in the cost of food and clothing. The D.N.P. believes in "free trade" provided local industries are adequately protected. There should be no unfair discrimination in commerce. The D.N.P. will encourage the signing of bilateral agreements between Malta and those countries from which most of our goods are purchased and this with the scope of getting these countries to acquire goods from Malta in exchange.

Aids to New Industries whether in the form of grants or loans should apply also to existing factories desiring to either enlarge their premises or renew their plant in order to increase production. The D.N.P. will ensure that the Grand Harbour shall operate in the most economical and efficient manner otherwise high costs would increase the cost of living and do away with any hope of converting the harbour into an "entrepot" of the Common Market. The D.N.P. will encourage the setting up of regular shipping and airline services with the Continent in order that industries may offer their goods at the shortest possible and competitive time. The system of tariffs and duties both outdated and most confused shall be revised radically in favour of industry and commerce. The D.N.P. undertakes to set up new banking legislation to ensure the security of deposits and to encourage the setting up of limited liability companies as well as of "credit unions". The D.N.P. will help in every possible way tourism. The D.N.P. shall engender even through the schools a spirit of hospitality and cleanliness; will organise a regular service to the continent for the carriage of cars; will analyse the possibility of a hovercraft service; will encourage the setting up of decent forms of night entertainment; will ensure that there shall be an adequate number of first class and second class hotels; will set up schools for waiters and cooks of international standard and will increase in every possible way the number of trees on the island. The D.N.P. will take every possible step to ensure that Malta also will benefit from recent discoveries of oil in adjoining countries and will insist with the British Government that any agreements on this subject with one or more of these adjoining countries should be a matter for the Maltese Government. Further research into the possibility of discovering oil in Malta shall be encouraged.

The D.N.P. considers fishing and agriculture to be as important as the setting up of new industries, and undertakes to help these with a view to the setting up of cooperatives which would benefit from (a) loans of money at low rate of interest repayable over an extended period (b) a reasonable exemption from import duties (c) the setting up of special banks. Farms and fishermen, on the other hand, will be ensured a minimum selling price for the different foods required by the country and in this way will be ensured adequate return for their money. The production of milk is an important industry which should be developed further. This industry should be under the management of a Milk Marketing Board as is in fact the practice in other countries where the farmers are also represented. Milk should be paid for at a reasonable rate covering all costs of production and allowing the farmer a fair margin of profit. The D.N.P. with the help of experts on this subject has a number of schemes by which all of the milk produced is made use of and none is allowed to go to waste. Amongst these is a scheme by which the cooperative of milk farmers of Malta and Gozo could set up a centre for the production of powdered milk. The D.N.P. undertakes, on being returned to power, to help farmers and fishermen in the following different ways:

1. To evolve a comprehensive scheme of irrigation and after having set up additional distillating plants for the conversion of sea water into potable water to allow farmers to dig for water on their own lands.

2.Carry out scientific research in the problems of improving the quality of the soil and into that of eliminating plant and animal diseases.

3.Carry out research into the possibilities of producing out of season fruits and vegetables with an eye on the export market.

4.Grant on long or perpetual leases agricultural lands to the farmers and exempt from succession duty lands granted to farmers for periods of over 50 years.

5.Repair and maintain country roads.

6.Allow farmers to contribute towards and benefit from the National Insurance Act.

7.Reorganse the Department of Fisheries in such a way as to provide better facilities for fishermen.

8.Encourage the setting up of cooperatives even amongst fishermen not only for the actual catching of fish, but also for its wholesale distri- [sic]

9.Improve and increase the number of sea going craft and fishing appliances.

10.Encourage and help the sale of frozen fish caught by Maltese fishermen and the setting up of factories for the canning of fish, this in order that when large quantities are caught it is all used and none goes to waste.

11.Take the necessary steps to ensure a reduction in the importation of agricultural foods and fish provided the cost of living does not as a result increase as encouraging where possible the setting up also of an export market. Subsidise the cost of such foods for export until such time as foreign markets arc ensured, this concurrently with the availability of funds for this purpose.

12.Set up a packing station in order that the farmers produce (potatoes) may be packed in an efficient manner and thus do away with the possibility of waste resulting from rotting by the time it reaches the foreign markets.

13. Ensure that protection to fishermen, fishing within territorial waters is more effective.

14. Set up a school for the training of fishermen.

15. Exempt from duty diesel oil and spare parts required by fishing craft.

16 Extend water and electricity supplies to wherever possible.

In view of the constant increase in the population emigration is necessary and would appear that it should cope with about 4,000 persons per year. The D.N.P. will see to it that emigration from our country is better organised.

The D.N.P. undertakes to see to the following:

1. That in countries to which the Maltese usually emigrate there is a representative of the Maltese Government to look after their interests and in certain cities to organise groups of social workers.

2.To help the Catholic [sic]

3.To encourage and help Religious Orders in sending members of their Orders to accompany emigrants.

4.To encourage the order of St. John of Jerusalem to open up with the help of the Maltese Government hostels in places where there exist large numbers of Maltese settlers.

5.Request Nato to exercise its influence with the U.S.A. Government to increase the immigration quota from Malta which is a Nato base.

6. Encourage emigration to the Common Market countries as well as to Switzerland where there is a shortage of labour.

7.Organise and encourage the emigration of youth.

8.Insist that the entry exams into the British Civil Service be also set for in Malta.

9. Organise School programmes after having given due consideration to the possible emigration of Maltese.

TAXATION

The system of taxation requires to be revised with a better proportion of direct to indirect taxation with duo consideration given to the possibility of recouping power for the tax payer. The D.N.P. suggests the following amendments:

1.Income tax by (a) allowing actual medical expenses when these exceed £20, (b) introducing an allowance in cases where there exist a number of family dependents, (c) remedy the inconvenience created by the recent taxation of 5/- in the pound on Securities, etc.

2.Owners deriving an income from rent on property the return from which is restricted to the 1939 basis to be exempt from income tax on this amount to compensate to the fact that they are helping to keep rents at a low level.

3. Amend the basis of capitalization on which the value 01 urban and Agricultural property is assessed for succession duty purposes.

4. Afford facilities for the settlement of succession duties by the transfer of a part of the actual property being inherited.

Legislation covering expropriation will be revised with a view to granting fair and quick compensation. The amendment in the law regarding building sites originally introduced by the Labour Party will be done away with and basis of compensation in case of expropriation shall be an architect's valuation.

The D.N.P. undertakes to study how best to remedy all the faults and injustices contained in the relative law such as forced evictions deriving from the granting of houses on short euphyteutica1 leases. The D.N.P. undertakes to amend the law in such a way as to grant the right of appeal in cases of forced eviction.

The D.N.P. will grant the Civil Services the right of automatic arbitration and will amend the law of trade unions in such a way as to make it impossible for union monies to be used for political purposes.

GOZO

Gozo must be granted a fair proportion in the budget. The D.N.P. therefore undertakes to

1.Improve communications between Malta and Gozo and this is in the interest of commerce, tourism and in order also to grant Maltese and Gozitans better travelling facilities.

2.Carry out the necessary works in the harbour of Gozo,

3.Complete a key plan for the island of Gozo to encourage the erection of more buildings with resulting possible reduction in rents.

4.Set up in Malta a hostel for Gozitans working in Malta.

5.Ensure that there shall be special broadcasts for Gozo.

6.Appoint a Minister for Gozitan Affairs.

The D.N.P., in order to be able to evolve gradually a system of social services gives full priority to the economic problems of the country and deplores the fact that other parties do not appreciate the importance of this matter. Progress, peace, stability and constitutional liberties are tied to the economic question. The D.N.P. undertakes to formulate another 5 year programme in view of the fact that the present one is almost due to expire and the economy of the country has not as yet taken any major strides forward. The D.N.P. when in power will approach the British Government with a view to putting the economy of the country on a more stable footing. The party will not allow the British Government to set aside the pledges she had made in 1953 and again on later occasions by which she had committed herself to contribute substantially to the very life and progress of our country. At the same time the D.N.P. feels that Malta should do her very best to help herself and should not hesitate to tackle all her many problems. Our Government besides the help which Great Britain is expected to give will require to borrow money for many different projects in order primarily that the burden of economic development be not borne by just one generation which as such is too weak to carry the load. Malta has always been of a great help to Great Britain in her wars and even in peace time. Great Britain must compensate by helping us and contribute for the use she has in the past made and is to this day making of Malta. The D.N.P. will insist on this point in order that Malta will no longer work for England but will in the future work with England along the road of progress.